an independent investigation into the whereabouts of HaLeigh Cummings
His name is “John Merchant” "I talked to the lead detective, his name is John Merchant ... he doesn't think that [Misty Croslin] is a suspect” by Timothy Charles Holmseth July 22, 2010 In August, 2009, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) issued a press release that stated: “The biological parents, Ronald Cummings and Crystal Sheffield, are not considered to be suspects in the case.” And therein, Ronald Cummings was cleared by the PCSO in the mysterious disappearance of his five year-old daughter, HaLeigh. The clean bill of health given to Cummings by Florida law enforcement assures the public that he has been perfectly truthful about any knowledge he has regarding the disappearance of his daughter. Although Cummings was cleared, Misty Croslin, however, continued to be pointed out by the PCSO as the one person who held the key to HaLeigh’s disappearance. On January 20, 2010, Ronald Cummings was arrested on charges of drug trafficking along with Misty Croslin and a few others. The drug sting was captured on video – Cummings and Croslin are caught in the act. Caught on tape – done deal – right? For four months Cummings and Croslin sat in jail. On May 14, 2010, reports began to roll out of the mainstream media that Ronald Cummings was seeking a plea deal in his case in exchange for his testimony against Misty Croslin in the drug trafficking case.
Because the drug transactions were captured on video it is not exactly known what compelling information Cummings has to provide law enforcement (it is known they are not trying to obtain information from him regarding his daughter’s disappearance because they cleared him as a suspect in August and cerainly they woudn't clear someone who was hiding information). Indeed, the cases against Cummings and Croslin are about as simple as pressing play on a video machine and watching the two execute an illegal drug transaction. Nonetheless, as of July 19, 2010, Cummings still had not reached a plea deal with the State’s Attorney regarding his drug trafficking charges. His trial was set to begin but was postponed again – negotiations pending. Apparently Cummings and the state’s attorney are still hammering out the details surrounding how Cummings will finally turn over the valuable information he keeps secret and hidden in his head about the drug deals that were captured on video.
And yet another thirty days is needed to find the PLAY button on the video recorder. What exactly gives Cummings his negotiation power is unknown to the public, but it is worth enough to continuously postpone his trial and potentially result in many, many years being shaved off his sentence. Indeed, Cummings has an envelope to push. Perhaps Cummings and the state’s attorney are negotiating a deal wherein Cummings will agree to press the PLAY button on the video recorder that will show Misty Croslin engaging in a drug transaction. Or maybe it is something else. Write Into Action cannot yet report what else may be being discussed in the communications and negotiations that began as far back as January, 2010. However, it is safe to report that the negotiations involve a friend and colleague of Ronald Cummings and his mother, Teresa Neves. Write Into Action cannot immediately disclose the details but can provide the name of the person who may be more worried than Ronald Cummings. He is the Chief of Homicide at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. His name is John Merchant. |
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